BSkyB says it added 94,000 more customers to its subscriber base in the three months to the end of September, fuelled by successful direct marketing strategies and a demand for high definition services.

BSkyB said it had spent an extra £50m this year on marketing HD alone, increasing its spend to £245m.

The Guardian reports that the national postal strike could lead to advertisers writing off direct mail campaigns worth at least £10m and force 40% of companies to rethink their Christmas advertising plans if industrial action continues.

Big direct mail spenders including BSkyB, BT and Virgin Media may have to rewrite their advertising strategies if disruption continues into the Christmas sales period.

The Liberal Democrats are set to mount a direct mail campaign as part of an attempt to target undecided voters for the 2010 General Election.

The plan, according to a report in the Guardian, is to target more than 200 seats - the largest number ever for the party. The Lib Dems currently hold 63 seats.

Waitrose has launched a direct mail campaign to encourage customers to continue using its online grocery channel WaitroseDeliver throughout the summer, even if they’re going on holiday.

This is in response to the increasing amount of people holidaying in the UK, as it reminds customers they can have shopping delivered to their holiday destination, or order groceries online and arrange to collect it en-route.

Starbucks have recently launched a new direct mail campaign designed to get people going to their stores in the US.

The campaign is comprised of a mini-envelope reminiscent of a wallet, which simply states on the exterior, “Give your wallet the day off.”

Inside the “wallet” there’s a mini Starbucks card pre-loaded with $5 ready for recipients to purchase a free drink.